Labor & Employment

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 24 rose to $21.5 million, compared with $20 million in the year-ago period.

Sales dipped 2.1% to $1.77 billion from $1.81 billion, barely meeting Wall Street’s expected $1.807 billion. Same-store sales dropped 4.3%.

“We remain focused on driving operational efficiencies as we position the company for long-term growth," said Ravi Saligram, president and CEO, OfficeMax.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Big 5 Sporting Goods announced that it has appointed Dominic DeMarco to serve on its board of directors, thereby expanding the board to seven members. DeMarco is director, co-chief investment officer and chief compliance officer for Stadium Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm whose affiliated funds have been shareholders of Big 5 since 2006 and taken together are the company's largest current shareholder.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million has announced that it will open 41 new BAM! stores in markets across the U.S. in early November. The company has also closed 21 underperforming locations during its third quarter. 

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said it welcomed a proposal unveiled by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., to reform the nation’s corporate tax structure.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Books-A-Million (BAM), which has been taking over the leases of former Borders locations, will transform 41 of the sites into BAM stores in early November. Most the locations, which are across the nation, represent new markets for the bookseller.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores is closing its U.S. apparel office in New York City as it shifts its focus from trendier fashions to more basic clothing. News of the move was first reported by Women’s Wear Daily and Reuters.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has 86 new restaurants slated for development in the Washington, D.C., market by 2020. The company said 15 development agreements were signed over the past year that will deliver 64 new restaurants, in addition to 22 restaurants that were previously contracted.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us said Wednesday it will make its debut in Poland at the end of November, opening a store in Warsaw.

The company, which currently operates 300+ stores in Europe, said it will add several additional locations in major cities throughout Poland in 2012.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Wednesday it has finalized the sale of its And 1 men’s performance and lifestyle brand to Galaxy International for $55 million.

The And 1 brand was part of the $145 million American Sporting Goods acquisition that Brown completed last February in a move to expand its reach into the fitness category.

Brown Shoe said it plans to use the proceeds from the sale of And 1 to pay down debt.

New York City -- A Tuesday report by Women’s Wear Daily said that the outlet division of Saks has named a former Barneys executive as its new VP.

Saks Off 5th has named Peter Rizzo, former Barneys executive VP, as its new senior VP and creative director for merchandising.